So Cal Fires (1 Viewer)

[General Malaise]

Crazy people running california played a big part in this. Cut the fire dpt budgets down and diverted rivers to save some fish.

What part of California do you live in?

probably doesn’t

Of course he doesn't. Trolls never do anything but troll.

 

[squistion]

When I woke up this morning, the inside of my place smells like smoke and there a gray haze in the air. The Altadena fire near me has still not been contained.

Here is an update from CBS:

Fire crews in Los Angeles brace for more heavy winds; at least 24 killed, thousands of buildings lost

The Palisades and Eaton fires burning in Southern California have destroyed more than 12,000 structures.

www.cbsnews.com

Hey squistion—I’d evacuate, man. I know it’s really difficult, but if they’ve asked you to and the inside of your house has a gray haze, it might be time to throw a bag or two together and get out. I don’t know what the roads are like or even where you’d go, but it doesn’t sound really good right now for you.

Regardless, it’s easy for me to say that. Godspeed like MoP said and best of luck to you. I hope the structure you’re living in continues to be in good stead.

I should have been more precise...the gray haze is not inside my place, just see it looking outside through my windows. And I am a block above Foothill Boulevard in La Crescenta - if you are familiar with that area I am not that close to the mountains.

 

[Sand]

Or terrorist aliens.

Finally something in here that makes sense.

I'm sitting here wondering if construction standards will change for these rebuilds. Cement/metal studs/tile rooves/etc. We can 3D print these houses now and make them non-flammable.

(Then again I've always thought anything from Houston west and south of I10 any flooded house needs to be rebuilt on pilings. That makes too much sense, and of course, doesn't have a chance of happening.)

 

[El Floppo]

Or terrorist aliens.

Finally something in here that makes sense.

I'm sitting here wondering if construction standards will change for these rebuilds. Cement/metal studs/tile rooves/etc. We can 3D print these houses now and make them non-flammable.

(Then again I've always thought anything from Houston west and south of I10 any flooded house needs to be rebuilt on pilings. That makes too much sense, and of course, doesn't have a chance of happening.)

Between college and grad school I took a design studio at a wacky NoCal "organic" architecture school. It was right after the Oakland Hills fire (91?). The brief was to design a fireproof home where the fire had been. Lots of concrete, subterranean, rammed earth, etc... along with fire activate shutters. Iirc, I went combo of concrete and underground. Still probably would have burned through the windows.

 

[Sammy3469]

Or terrorist aliens.

Finally something in here that makes sense.

I'm sitting here wondering if construction standards will change for these rebuilds. Cement/metal studs/tile rooves/etc. We can 3D print these houses now and make them non-flammable.

(Then again I've always thought anything from Houston west and south of I10 any flooded house needs to be rebuilt on pilings. That makes too much sense, and of course, doesn't have a chance of happening.)

I think a lot of the ultra modern stuff in the hills (and Malibu) have a lot of those features.

 

[DA RAIDERS]

Do we have an explanation for why five separate fires started within hours of each other??

High winds and dry conditions doesn’t explain that imho….maybe one or two, but five?

Any chance this can be terrorism ?

No. This happens all the time n the west. Most of them are in relatively unpopulated areas so get next to no coverage except locally. A few months ago there were 3-4 fires burning in the mountains at the same. Much bigger fires. But next to zero homes burned. Sept 5th, 8th and 9th. 124,000 acres burned. But very few structures.

 

[DA RAIDERS]

So what happens in these situations? Insurance covers your rebuild or offers you money to relocate?

My BIL in Maui received a cash settlement that included the value of the home and a rental stipend for a comparable home in Maui for one year. He had good insurance.

 

[Sand]

Or terrorist aliens.

Finally something in here that makes sense.

I'm sitting here wondering if construction standards will change for these rebuilds. Cement/metal studs/tile rooves/etc. We can 3D print these houses now and make them non-flammable.

(Then again I've always thought anything from Houston west and south of I10 any flooded house needs to be rebuilt on pilings. That makes too much sense, and of course, doesn't have a chance of happening.)

I think a lot of the ultra modern stuff in the hills (and Malibu) have a lot of those features.

I guess then we'll see if those features work. An acid test (might as well learn from this terrible situation).

 

[2Young2BBald]

Or terrorist aliens.

Finally something in here that makes sense.

I'm sitting here wondering if construction standards will change for these rebuilds. Cement/metal studs/tile rooves/etc. We can 3D print these houses now and make them non-flammable.

(Then again I've always thought anything from Houston west and south of I10 any flooded house needs to be rebuilt on pilings. That makes too much sense, and of course, doesn't have a chance of happening.)

They have for areas in what is called the Wildland Urban Interface. https://www.usfa.fema.gov/wui/what-is-the-wui.html

One of the most significant requirements IMO is screening to keep flying embers out of soffit, gable and other roof vents. If you have wondered why one home might be burnt to the ground and others remain standing, a lot of it has to do with how convection pulled embers into the attic when other homes “arrested” the opportunity. I saw this a lot working the Woolsey Fire in and around Malibu in 2018, as there would be some homes on the ground and others with minor ember and smoke damages. Having worked Cali a lot way back to the Northridge EQ, age of home (built to code or lack thereof at the time) is a huge contributing factor as to damage ability.

 

[DA RAIDERS]

So what happens in these situations? Insurance covers your rebuild or offers you money to relocate?

I'm going to very interested to find out how many of these homeowners were uninsured. Insurance companies have been cancelling policies in areas of the country like this for exactly this reason.

Only the dumb ones will not have insurance. Despite what MOP is saying, this is a VERY affluent neighborhood. Even if they inherited the house free and clear, 12+24k/year isn’t going to affect most of these people. Plus, I you’re a broke inheritor and are sitting on 5-50 million in equity, you’re gonna refinance so you can keep up with the jones’. Then the bank will force the insurance.

 

[2Young2BBald]

Or terrorist aliens.

Finally something in here that makes sense.

I'm sitting here wondering if construction standards will change for these rebuilds. Cement/metal studs/tile rooves/etc. We can 3D print these houses now and make them non-flammable.

(Then again I've always thought anything from Houston west and south of I10 any flooded house needs to be rebuilt on pilings. That makes too much sense, and of course, doesn't have a chance of happening.)

I think a lot of the ultra modern stuff in the hills (and Malibu) have a lot of those features.

I guess then we'll see if those features work. An acid test (might as well learn from this terrible situation).

Lots of newer tech that really works but is incredibly costly. I recall a home of an Engineer in Malibu that created a foaming device under the gutter system that released fire retardant foam when a certain temp was reached. It saved the home while others we not spared. I had another where the rebuild included a high pressure pump that would essentially release a fountain of water over the home with the contents from the pool.

 

[El Floppo]

Less windy today?

How is it going with containment? Amy progress?

 

[El Floppo]

Or terrorist aliens.

Finally something in here that makes sense.

I'm sitting here wondering if construction standards will change for these rebuilds. Cement/metal studs/tile rooves/etc. We can 3D print these houses now and make them non-flammable.

(Then again I've always thought anything from Houston west and south of I10 any flooded house needs to be rebuilt on pilings. That makes too much sense, and of course, doesn't have a chance of happening.)

They have for areas in what is called the Wildland Urban Interface. https://www.usfa.fema.gov/wui/what-is-the-wui.html

One of the most significant requirements IMO is screening to keep flying embers out of soffit, gable and other roof vents. If you have wondered why one home might be burnt to the ground and others remain standing, a lot of it has to do with how convection pulled embers into the attic when other homes “arrested” the opportunity. I saw this a lot working the Woolsey Fire in and around Malibu in 2018, as there would be some homes on the ground and others with minor ember and smoke damages. Having worked Cali a lot way back to the Northridge EQ, age of home (built to code or lack thereof at the time) is a huge contributing factor as to damage ability.

Very interesting. Are those different screens than typically speced to keep animals/insects out?)

 

[DA RAIDERS]

When I woke up this morning, the inside of my place smells like smoke and there a gray haze in the air. The Altadena fire near me has still not been contained.

Here is an update from CBS:

Fire crews in Los Angeles brace for more heavy winds; at least 24 killed, thousands of buildings lost

The Palisades and Eaton fires burning in Southern California have destroyed more than 12,000 structures.

www.cbsnews.com

You've been asked to evacuate, you smell smoke and you've decided to stay
The pictures of Altadena before, during the fire and now after the fire are scary and you live near Altadena
You've been asked to evacuate, you smell smoke and you've decided to stay
Good Luck and Godspeed

It was a notice that goes out to all cell phones within a certain mile radius of the fire. And when you are near a brush fire that has been burning for over 24 hours, the air will smell smokey (often even inside a dwelling). I am still not that close to the actual fires. I had the basics all ready to go if I had to leave in a hurry if necessary. I have been through this before and if it really serious police cars will usually go around with loudspeakers/bullhorns asking people to immediately evacuate (obviously only if they have time to do so).

I had the sheriffs coming through my neighborhood on loud speaker telling everyone to evacuate when the canyon across the street was on fire. We chose to stay. Had the cars packed and ready. And myself and couple other neighbors monitored things closely. And this was across the street from me. It just like the people that sty when hurricanes hit. I have faith in @squistion

 

[2Young2BBald]

Or terrorist aliens.

Finally something in here that makes sense.

I'm sitting here wondering if construction standards will change for these rebuilds. Cement/metal studs/tile rooves/etc. We can 3D print these houses now and make them non-flammable.

(Then again I've always thought anything from Houston west and south of I10 any flooded house needs to be rebuilt on pilings. That makes too much sense, and of course, doesn't have a chance of happening.)

They have for areas in what is called the Wildland Urban Interface. https://www.usfa.fema.gov/wui/what-is-the-wui.html

One of the most significant requirements IMO is screening to keep flying embers out of soffit, gable and other roof vents. If you have wondered why one home might be burnt to the ground and others remain standing, a lot of it has to do with how convection pulled embers into the attic when other homes “arrested” the opportunity. I saw this a lot working the Woolsey Fire in and around Malibu in 2018, as there would be some homes on the ground and others with minor ember and smoke damages. Having worked Cali a lot way back to the Northridge EQ, age of home (built to code or lack thereof at the time) is a huge contributing factor as to damage ability.

Very interesting. Are those different screens than typically speced to keep animals/insects out?)

Yes, way more engineering involved. https://ablemetal.com/wui-vents/

Same with windows. As I recall, all will have multiple panes of glass, argon or another filling and a shatter proof film. Some home require sprinklers with a dedicated pump and water tank. Not really to save the home but give those in it a chance at escape.

 

[DA RAIDERS]

Less windy today?

How is it going with containment? Amy progress?

Haven’t turned on the news yet not too windy down here in SoCal. It was gusty last night but not as bad.

 

[El Floppo]

Or terrorist aliens.

Finally something in here that makes sense.

I'm sitting here wondering if construction standards will change for these rebuilds. Cement/metal studs/tile rooves/etc. We can 3D print these houses now and make them non-flammable.

(Then again I've always thought anything from Houston west and south of I10 any flooded house needs to be rebuilt on pilings. That makes too much sense, and of course, doesn't have a chance of happening.)

They have for areas in what is called the Wildland Urban Interface. https://www.usfa.fema.gov/wui/what-is-the-wui.html

One of the most significant requirements IMO is screening to keep flying embers out of soffit, gable and other roof vents. If you have wondered why one home might be burnt to the ground and others remain standing, a lot of it has to do with how convection pulled embers into the attic when other homes “arrested” the opportunity. I saw this a lot working the Woolsey Fire in and around Malibu in 2018, as there would be some homes on the ground and others with minor ember and smoke damages. Having worked Cali a lot way back to the Northridge EQ, age of home (built to code or lack thereof at the time) is a huge contributing factor as to damage ability.

Very interesting. Are those different screens than typically speced to keep animals/insects out?)

Yes, way more engineering involved. https://ablemetal.com/wui-vents/

Same with windows. As I recall, all will have multiple panes of glass, argon or another filling and a shatter proof film. Some home require sprinklers with a dedicated pump and water tank. Not really to save the home but give those in it a chance at escape.

In late stages of designing a house in Laguna Beach... Will look into these.

ETA.. thanks!!!

 

[BobbyLayne]

Yesterday a new fire started (sorry don’t know which one this is related to) & within 10 minutes it was 10 acres. Within 20 minutes it was 250 acres.

Given me a new paradigm as to what unimaginable actually means. None of us can truly comprehend the scale or how fast this develops.

 

[Sand]

Or terrorist aliens.

Finally something in here that makes sense.

I'm sitting here wondering if construction standards will change for these rebuilds. Cement/metal studs/tile rooves/etc. We can 3D print these houses now and make them non-flammable.

(Then again I've always thought anything from Houston west and south of I10 any flooded house needs to be rebuilt on pilings. That makes too much sense, and of course, doesn't have a chance of happening.)

I think a lot of the ultra modern stuff in the hills (and Malibu) have a lot of those features.

I guess then we'll see if those features work. An acid test (might as well learn from this terrible situation).

Lots of newer tech that really works but is incredibly costly. I recall a home of an Engineer in Malibu that created a foaming device under the gutter system that released fire retardant foam when a certain temp was reached. It saved the home while others we not spared. I had another where the rebuild included a high pressure pump that would essentially release a fountain of water over the home with the contents from the pool.

Dude! Haven't seen you post for a while. Hope all is well your way. Still think about the Bourbon Chase a lot.

 

[DA RAIDERS]

Or terrorist aliens.

Finally something in here that makes sense.

I'm sitting here wondering if construction standards will change for these rebuilds. Cement/metal studs/tile rooves/etc. We can 3D print these houses now and make them non-flammable.

(Then again I've always thought anything from Houston west and south of I10 any flooded house needs to be rebuilt on pilings. That makes too much sense, and of course, doesn't have a chance of happening.)

They have for areas in what is called the Wildland Urban Interface. https://www.usfa.fema.gov/wui/what-is-the-wui.html

One of the most significant requirements IMO is screening to keep flying embers out of soffit, gable and other roof vents. If you have wondered why one home might be burnt to the ground and others remain standing, a lot of it has to do with how convection pulled embers into the attic when other homes “arrested” the opportunity. I saw this a lot working the Woolsey Fire in and around Malibu in 2018, as there would be some homes on the ground and others with minor ember and smoke damages. Having worked Cali a lot way back to the Northridge EQ, age of home (built to code or lack thereof at the time) is a huge contributing factor as to damage ability.

Very interesting. Are those different screens than typically speced to keep animals/insects out?)

Yes, way more engineering involved. https://ablemetal.com/wui-vents/

Same with windows. As I recall, all will have multiple panes of glass, argon or another filling and a shatter proof film. Some home require sprinklers with a dedicated pump and water tank. Not really to save the home but give those in it a chance at escape.

In late stages of designing a house in Laguna Beach... Will look into these.

ETA.. thanks!!!

I forgot about that. Emerald bay right? Let me know if you come out for a sight visit.

 

[dkp993]

Do we have an explanation for why five separate fires started within hours of each other??

High winds and dry conditions doesn’t explain that imho….maybe one or two, but five?

Any chance this can be terrorism ?

burning embers blowing around in 100 mph winds can travel miles, no mystery to it.

This is the very likely scenario.

But on a side note, about 10 years ago I had a buddy who worked for homeland security. He said internally one of their biggest fears was a coordinated terrorist attack of multiple fires set at once across California in conditions like this. The death and destruction could be unimaginable.

 

[dkp993]

That said, you might be right in suspecting arson. We had somebody trying to commit arson a few blocks from our home the other month. I hope they give him life.

This happened again LAST NIGHT by the highschool you and I live by. Guy had set his car of fire and the cops had to shoot him. (He lived).

 

[rockaction]

That said, you might be right in suspecting arson. We had somebody trying to commit arson a few blocks from our home the other month. I hope they give him life.

This happened again LAST NIGHT by the highschool you and I live by. Guy had set his car of fire and the cops had to shoot him. (He lived).

Wow. WTF is going on?

 

[Terpman22]

Got smoke blowing past me on both sides down here in Long Beach. Stuff is very crazy right now though, staying off these freeways.

 

[DA RAIDERS]

That said, you might be right in suspecting arson. We had somebody trying to commit arson a few blocks from our home the other month. I hope they give him life.

This happened again LAST NIGHT by the highschool you and I live by. Guy had set his car of fire and the cops had to shoot him. (He lived).

Yea, there was a TikTok that my kid showed me of teenagers throwing gas cans onto the side of the road. They were on temescal canyon stuck in the early evacuating traffic. I doubted the veracity of it. The way they threw the cans, they appeared empty. People are stupid.

 

[dkp993]

That said, you might be right in suspecting arson. We had somebody trying to commit arson a few blocks from our home the other month. I hope they give him life.

This happened again LAST NIGHT by the highschool you and I live by. Guy had set his car of fire and the cops had to shoot him. (He lived).

Wow. WTF is going on?

Not sure. Wife just told be about it 5 mins before I read your post. Crazy gonna crazy I guess.

 

[rockaction]

That said, you might be right in suspecting arson. We had somebody trying to commit arson a few blocks from our home the other month. I hope they give him life.

This happened again LAST NIGHT by the highschool you and I live by. Guy had set his car of fire and the cops had to shoot him. (He lived).

Wow. WTF is going on?

Not sure. Wife just told be about it 5 mins before I read your post. Crazy gonna crazy I guess.

Jiminy Cricket. That’s just so nuts. Why do they gotta take errrybody who is just trying to live with them on their death trip? Go on that death trip if you must, guy (we will try to get you the help you need if you’re ambivalent about it), but go on it alone for the rest of us, huh?

 

[rockaction]

Yea, there was a TikTok that my kid showed me of teenagers throwing gas cans onto the side of the road.

I would put nothing past China. I’ll just leave that there. (I, of course, am using Occam’s razor and the probability of that is minuscule, but still . . . ). Don’t like TikTok. Don’t like China. Don’t like the youth being given an algorithm originating from our ideological and physical enemies.

Don’t like it. One bit. Has very little to do with the fires, either, which I believe to be accidental and out-of-control, even though all these arson attempts are giving me pause.

 

[DA RAIDERS]

Yea, there was a TikTok that my kid showed me of teenagers throwing gas cans onto the side of the road.

I would put nothing past China. I’ll just leave that there. (I, of course, am using Occam’s razor and the probability of that is minuscule, but still . . . ). Don’t like TikTok. Don’t like China. Don’t like the youth being given an algorithm originating from our ideological and physical enemies.

Don’t like it. One bit. Has very little to do with the fires, either, which I believe to be accidental and out-of-control, even though all these arson attempts are giving me pause.

I call all videos my daughter shows me TikTok’s. Or rather dumbToks. The kids in the video were white kids with that stupid floppy haircut they all have. The car was a mid level white suv. I doubt they were Chinese operatives. Always remember, kids are dumb.

 

[Pigskin Fanatic]

The Palisades, Eaton, and the Hurst fires are still not contained. The Lidia fire (east of Santa Clarita) and the Sunset fire (Studio City) are mostly burnt out and not as a big concnern assuming the winds don't pick up before they are completely contained.

Only the Sunset fire is suspected of having been caused by non-natural means and even that is not confirmed. It was initially reported that the fire started inside a residence above Sunset. Even though it's being referred to as the Studio City fire, the house that is suspected as the epicenter is on the South side of Hollywood Hills. It was visible from the Bubank hills and North Hollywood which are way north, so it was being reported on social media that Studio City was on fire. Don't think it ever got that far north overnight.

@squistion , i'm roughly 5 miles west of you so still not impacted and air quality is still okay. my friends in your neighborhood are either gone or getting ready to leave for a few days due to the air quality more so than the fire concerns. If you have options, maybe consider it. Hopefully the fire stays east of the 2.

 

[Pigskin Fanatic]

missed this, the Hurst fire is contained too, so only the two big ones remain.

Woodley Fire knocked down at 30 acres​

From CNN's Chris Boyette
The Woodley Fire, which started Wednesday morning in the Sepulveda Basin west of Los Angeles’ Van Nuys neighborhood, is fully contained at 30 acres.


“We are using fire patrols to monitor the area for any flare ups,” city Fire Chief Kristin Crowley said Thursday at a news conference. “The fire has been declared as a knockdown, and there are no current threats.”

 

[Sammy3469]

Or terrorist aliens.

Finally something in here that makes sense.

I'm sitting here wondering if construction standards will change for these rebuilds. Cement/metal studs/tile rooves/etc. We can 3D print these houses now and make them non-flammable.

(Then again I've always thought anything from Houston west and south of I10 any flooded house needs to be rebuilt on pilings. That makes too much sense, and of course, doesn't have a chance of happening.)

They have for areas in what is called the Wildland Urban Interface. https://www.usfa.fema.gov/wui/what-is-the-wui.html

One of the most significant requirements IMO is screening to keep flying embers out of soffit, gable and other roof vents. If you have wondered why one home might be burnt to the ground and others remain standing, a lot of it has to do with how convection pulled embers into the attic when other homes “arrested” the opportunity. I saw this a lot working the Woolsey Fire in and around Malibu in 2018, as there would be some homes on the ground and others with minor ember and smoke damages. Having worked Cali a lot way back to the Northridge EQ, age of home (built to code or lack thereof at the time) is a huge contributing factor as to damage ability.

Very interesting. Are those different screens than typically speced to keep animals/insects out?)

Yes, way more engineering involved. https://ablemetal.com/wui-vents/

Same with windows. As I recall, all will have multiple panes of glass, argon or another filling and a shatter proof film. Some home require sprinklers with a dedicated pump and water tank. Not really to save the home but give those in it a chance at escape.

The LA ABC station was going over the Palisades just now which is just decimated, but there are several houses (and large businesses/school structures) that survived. They seemed newish constructions.

But that areas is just destroyed, like a bomb went off.

 

[DA RAIDERS]

Yea, I finally turned on the news. It’s awful. 100s and 100’s of homes gone.

 

[dozer]

Fire updates often include a “% contained” figure, and it can take days for fire crews to get even 10% containment on certain fires.

 

[nirad3]

Not sure about the canyons up closer to LA, but down here in Orange County the wind has absolutely stopped.

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

(Then again I've always thought anything from Houston west and south of I10 any flooded house needs to be rebuilt on pilings. That makes too much sense, and of course, doesn't have a chance of happening.)

Not necessary. Most of the problem can be fixed in other ways. On the other hand, people in part of Bellaire raised their houses.

Stay safe, people.

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

But that areas is just destroyed, like a bomb went off.

The after pictures look like Dresden in WWII. Ugh.

 

[2Young2BBald]

But that areas is just destroyed, like a bomb went off.

The after pictures look like Dresden in WWII. Ugh.

In 2017 I was one of the first people allowed to drive up to the top of Fountain Grove in Santa Rosa and turned 360 and saw devastation everywhere I looked and thought the exact same thing then. I have worked every major disaster since Andrew and that was the worst thing I’ve ever seen. I have been sent home from Hurricane Helene to prepare to go to the LA area where I fear the next worst thing I have ever seen is next. I am sick thinking about it.

 

[Nipsey]

I'm more centrally located in LA so I'm not that close to the Palisades fire but I'm much closer to the Sunset fire which was thankfully contained last night. The air quality near me was okay yesterday but today it's terrible. Clearing my throat every 10 seconds and have the air purifier cranked up. It doesn't smell like a normal fire like a fireplace. It smells toxic. Now Mount Wilson is in danger with a huge fire right next to it. Major winds forecast for next week. We knew fires were likely due to the lack of rain this year and crazy high winds but this is beyond anything anyone could have imagined. My friend's father lost his house and another friend was evacuated. His house is okay for now. The Palisades and Malibu are kind of like the Park Place and Boardwalk of LA. Amazing places to hang out. Beyond the personal loss of homes, town centers have been destroyed. Restaurants, theaters, shops. All gone. I made the mistake of going on Reddit and reading comments from Luigi Bros cheering the destruction of affluent properties. Sickening. They have no idea how much more has been lost. There are trailer parks and senior centers in those affected areas. Pets and wildlife. Small businesses that have been there for generations. So many lives upended for people who don't have the means to fully recover. The scenes of the destruction they are showing on TV right now are truly devastating. People trying to score misguided political points while the fires are still burning can all go jump right into the flames. Hoping all my LA FBG friends are doing alright.

 

[B Maverick]

I'm in North OC and work in Huntington Beach. You can definitely see the smoke wandering south. Could smell the fires last night but not this morning. Wind is calmer in HB today, still a bit breezy though.

 

[DA RAIDERS]

wind has picked significantly in the last hour. south OC

 

[Pigskin Fanatic]

winds are expected to pick up again late Sunday, hoping things improve before that. I just went for a walk, compared to the last two days it is as calm as it has been in terms of the wind. It's eerie, blue skies where I am, but can see the smoke from two of the fires. Lots of junk everywhere, saw a big screen TV potentially from someone's backyard and a few chairs pushed to the sidewalks.

The Eaton fire smoke is now white, it was black yesterday. I think that is a good sign. Small part of Glendale lifted evac orders north of the 134. Latest bad news is that it is spreading into Mt Wilson, north of Altadena. Observatory, research arrays, and tv studio antennaes up there. Anyone watch Big Bang Theory? Every facility and landmark they talk about in the show are all within this area.

I think I mentioned I know someone who lost her home there. I just heard this morning she wasn't able to pack much when the evac orders hit, so it's a total loss. So sad for her and her family. Lots of support going her way, which is good to see, but can't imagine the grief.

The Sunset fire smoke is more widespread than I thought it would be. It's also white, so no active flames from my vantage point looking through Universal Studios.

Palisades news keeps getting sadder, so many famous people live there, we'll hear more about it throughout the year. The amount of wealth lost there will probably never be truly quantified. Lots of donations already coming in from other celebrities, so that's good to see.

Can't say enough about what the firefighters and first responders are doing over the last two days, so much gratitude and respect for everyone doing all they can to keep the fires from spreading further.

 

[dickey moe]

Crazy people running california played a big part in this. Cut the fire dpt budgets down and diverted rivers to save some fish.

that’s so false but ok

Those are truly components of the inability to manage the problem, as well as the refusal to effectively manage fuel loads in the vicinity of populated areas. But this is inevitably going to become political, so I'll stop there.

 

[Gr00vus]

Or terrorist aliens.

Finally something in here that makes sense.

I'm sitting here wondering if construction standards will change for these rebuilds. Cement/metal studs/tile rooves/etc. We can 3D print these houses now and make them non-flammable.

(Then again I've always thought anything from Houston west and south of I10 any flooded house needs to be rebuilt on pilings. That makes too much sense, and of course, doesn't have a chance of happening.)

They have for areas in what is called the Wildland Urban Interface. https://www.usfa.fema.gov/wui/what-is-the-wui.html

One of the most significant requirements IMO is screening to keep flying embers out of soffit, gable and other roof vents. If you have wondered why one home might be burnt to the ground and others remain standing, a lot of it has to do with how convection pulled embers into the attic when other homes “arrested” the opportunity. I saw this a lot working the Woolsey Fire in and around Malibu in 2018, as there would be some homes on the ground and others with minor ember and smoke damages. Having worked Cali a lot way back to the Northridge EQ, age of home (built to code or lack thereof at the time) is a huge contributing factor as to damage ability.

Very interesting. Are those different screens than typically speced to keep animals/insects out?)

Yes, way more engineering involved. https://ablemetal.com/wui-vents/

Same with windows. As I recall, all will have multiple panes of glass, argon or another filling and a shatter proof film. Some home require sprinklers with a dedicated pump and water tank. Not really to save the home but give those in it a chance at escape.

You also have to design to address earthquakes as well. Sometimes designing for earthquake and designing for fire aren't completely compatible. Living through an earthquake in a brick or heavy concrete building isn't as likely as something more lightly constructed.

 

[Gr00vus]

I'm more centrally located in LA so I'm not that close to the Palisades fire but I'm much closer to the Sunset fire which was thankfully contained last night. The air quality near me was okay yesterday but today it's terrible. Clearing my throat every 10 seconds and have the air purifier cranked up. It doesn't smell like a normal fire like a fireplace. It smells toxic. Now Mount Wilson is in danger with a huge fire right next to it. Major winds forecast for next week. We knew fires were likely due to the lack of rain this year and crazy high winds but this is beyond anything anyone could have imagined. My friend's father lost his house and another friend was evacuated. His house is okay for now. The Palisades and Malibu are kind of like the Park Place and Boardwalk of LA. Amazing places to hang out. Beyond the personal loss of homes, town centers have been destroyed. Restaurants, theaters, shops. All gone. I made the mistake of going on Reddit and reading comments from Luigi Bros cheering the destruction of affluent properties. Sickening. They have no idea how much more has been lost. There are trailer parks and senior centers in those affected areas. Pets and wildlife. Small businesses that have been there for generations. So many lives upended for people who don't have the means to fully recover. The scenes of the destruction they are showing on TV right now are truly devastating. People trying to score misguided political points while the fires are still burning can all go jump right into the flames. Hoping all my LA FBG friends are doing alright.

In addition to this, the homes being lost from the Eaton fire are generally owned by middle class level folks at best, a lot of them are much less affluent. I fear many don't have insurance. It's going to be a very painful time in Altadena for a while.

 

[culdeus]

How do you even begin to re home all the displaced people? This is 1000s and 1000s of people and infrastructure that will take ages to rebuild.

 

[Gr00vus]

It's a trip. I can now look out my window facing the San Gabriels and see all the way to the top of the ridge line, no flames at all, but lots of smoke rising from the ridges behind them and either side of them (several miles away in either direction). So different from the 2020 fires that seemed to burn in place for weeks.

 

[SFBayDuck]

In addition to this, the homes being lost from the Eaton fire are generally owned by middle class level folks at best, a lot of them are much less affluent. I fear many don't have insurance. It's going to be a very painful time in Altadena for a while.

Just saw on FB an acquaintance from my trail running days that lost her house in Altadena. Talked about how that tiny house, far from where they worked, was all they could afford in LA and it and it's contents was everything they had.

 

[foxco]

People trying to score misguided political points while the fires are still burning can all go jump right into the flames.

x2

 

[Ilov80s]

Just awful awful. So bad I hate to even go on social media to see about it. Best of luck everyone who is there or has family/friends.